New Delhi: Google has recently added a new Panorama mode to the Pixel 8 series, bringing back some of the functionality of the now-discontinued Photo Sphere feature. The updated Panorama mode is rolling out through the recent Pixel Camera application update and closely resembles the guided capture experience that Photo Sphere was known for. The latest mode was first introduced with the Pixel 9 lineup and has now made its way to the Pixel 8 series through Pixel Camera version 10.2, which began rolling out earlier this month.
The upgraded Panorama mode features a redesigned, step-by-step interface that guides users through the capture process. Instead of freely sweeping the phone across the scene, the camera application shows a series of dots on the screen, prompting users where to move next. Contextual text prompts appear below the viewfinder, and a built-in level indicator helps keep the phone aligned while shooting. As the user moves the phone and captures different segments, a small live preview of the stitched image appears above the interface.
Tapping the setting icon in the Panorama interface enables users to choose the capture direction. Users can start panning left or right in portrait mode, or switch to up and down capture by rotating the phone to landscape orientation. The latest Panorama mode also works along with Night Sight. Users can set Night Sight to Off, Auto, or On, enabling panoramas to be captured in low-light conditions with improved brightness and detail.
Unlike older panorama implementations that relied on the video capture, Google is using the Pixel’s HDR10+ photo pipeline to create stitched panoramas. This approach captures more image data than video-based methods, resulting in better detail, dynamic range, and overall image quality. The latest Panorama mode appears to have rolled out to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro with Pixel Camera version 10.2. The report also stated that the feature does not currently show up on the Pixel 7 Pro, even when running the same application version.
